Jun 27, 2022
You might know Discord as a chat app for gamers. But as Inc. reports, the voice, video, and text chat platform can be a valuable tool for builders seeking to cultivate a community and connect with its most engaged members.
Brothers Eddie, Brian, and Eric Nam made Discord a major player in their process when they started Mindset, a subscription-based app that allows American and Korean musicians to share their personal stories via podcast-style episodes. Union Square Ventures led their $8.7 million seed round last year, and Mindset’s server has grown to almost 44,000 members strong.
Here are three tips for running a successful server:
1. This is not a “set it and forget it” situation. If your goal is to create open dialogue and strong affinities, you’ll have to put in the time to make it happen. CEO of Mindset Brian Nam spends at least an hour a day on Discord responding to comments and hosting live brainstorming sessions. It’s also important to have channels outlining rules and expectations and to have moderators at the ready to manage offensive comments.
2. Set up specific avenues for feedback. You don’t want new ideas and constructive comments to get lost in the shuffle. Dedicated channels for feedback and guided discussions can help you stay organized. Beyond that, scheduling sessions for real-time discussions is a great opportunity for founders to collaborate with their customers.
3. Have fun. In many ways, Discord functions like Slack. But because of its gaming roots, there are many opportunities for creativity and fun. Because the platform offers so much in the way of profile personalization, users are able to build social media-like identities and have specific roles within the server (like “moderator” or “ambassador”). Mindset, for example, created a unique role called daebak — Korean for “awesome” — that it bestows upon its most enthusiastic members.
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